Roman Empire Historical Facts
Whispers on the Walls: Graffiti as a Voice of Ancient Rome
For tens of thousands of years, people have been leaving their marks on the walls. How was street art during the Empire perceived?
Stories from the Roman Empire, every day in your inbox.
Anecdotes, historical facts, fictional stories and news curated from a small team of human writers, fascinated with Ancient Rome and its myriad myths and legends.
Latest
Roman Empire Anecdotes
Beyond Marcus Aurelius: Lucius Verus, the Shadowed Emperor of Rome's Golden Age
Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus; adoptive siblings and co-emperors, one shining through the centuries, the other fading quietly along history’s winding path.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Brothers Divided: The Tragic Tale of Emperors Caracalla and Geta
As the Severan dynasty rose to prominence, the two brothers were groomed to jointly inherit their father’s empire. Despite their shared upbringing, their differences—both personal and political—were stark and irreconcilable.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Were Christians Really Fed to the Lions in Ancient Rome?
What is the truth behind the phrase: “Christians to the lions?”
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Saturnalia: The Roman Festival that Inspired the Spirit of Christmas
Was Saturnalia of the ancient Romans what Christmas is for us today? The two have a lot in common. How was Saturnalia celebrated?
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Foundations of Justice: Rome’s Twelve Tables
Traditions or laws? Lex duodecim tabularum was the legislation that stood at the foundation of Roman law.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
A Sail Above the Sand: Did the Colosseum Really Have a Retractable Roof?
Imagine 50,000 Romans seated in the blazing summer sun, cheering gladiators while the midday heat bears down on the mighty Colosseum. Yet, their faces are shaded, cooled by a system so advanced that even modern engineers marvel at its ingenuity. How did the Romans achieve this?
Roman Empire Historical Facts
What was the Severan Marble Plan?
In the ruins of an ancient city, amidst temples and columns long abandoned, lied the shattered remains of something truly extraordinary.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Antinous and Hadrian: Love, Devotion, or Divine Ambition?
In the shadowy chronicles of Roman history, there is a relationship that have sparked intrigue and questions; that between Emperor Hadrian and the enigmatic Antinous.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
The Imperial Auction: Fact or Fiction? Unraveling the Reign of Didius Julianus
In the shadowed corridors of Roman history, Marcus Didius Julianus stands as one enigmatic figure to wear the imperial purple.
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Empire of Diversity: Romans Beyond Rome
Beyond the marble walls of the Eternal City, the Roman Empire thrived on its ability to weave diverse cultures into a unified whole.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Dining with Domitian and the Enigma of Domitian’s Black Dinner
What was like dining with the emperor? What is the famous black dinner of Domitian? What was the meaning behind the black decoration and the macabre settings?
Roman Empire Anecdotes
The Continence of Scipio: A Legacy of Clemency in Roman History and Art
The story of how Scipio Africanus came to be a protagonist in numerous pieces of art, is the perfect how-to, in building a persona that lasts through the ages.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Whispers Through Marble: The Enigmatic Acoustics of Herodes Atticus Odeon
Built for acoustic delight, The Odeon of Herodes Atticus still offers moments of unforgettable experiences for the audiences that flood its premises to enjoy various spectacles in Athens.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
Emperor Domitian: Tyrant or Reformer?
Emperor Domitian, who ruled Rome from 81 to 96 CE, is one of the most polarizing figures of the Roman Empire. Dismissed by many ancient writers as a tyrant and remembered for his strained relationship with the Senate, Domitian’s legacy is one of complexity and contradiction.
Roman Empire Historical Facts
What was a Tribune in Ancient Rome?
Tribune was the title of various elected officials in Ancient Rome, but since the term is a bit convoluted and lost in time, the answer to the question is not a simple one.